The county town of Kirkcudbright was named for the saint, Cuthbert. An early rendition of the name of the town was Kilcudbrit, derived from the Scots Gaelic “Cille Chuithbeirt” (Chapel of Cuthbert). The Anglo-Saxon saint’s remains were kept here for seven years between exhumation at Lindisfarne and re-interment at Chester-le-Street. A “pectoral cross”

was found on the saint’s body when his tomb was opened in the nineteenth century. The original is on display in Durham Cathedral where he was eventually buried. This cross is consequently depicted on the flags of both County Durham and  Kirkcudbrightshire.

The county is also the eastern portion of the ancient territory of Galloway whose traditional arms (Lords of Galloway) were a silver (white) lion on blue field with a touch of red on the claws and tongue

An amended version was adopted by the former county council

which included a green and white chequered band in reference to the checked tablecloth used by the Stewards of the Lords of Galloway when collecting taxes and other dues. The colours of the flag are accordingly the distinct green and white of the “Stewartry of Kirkcudbright” counterchanged to reflect the green and white checks.

The flag was created by Philip Tibbetts, who consulted with the county’s Lord Liuetenant regarding the adoption of a flag. The design was duly registered by the highest Scottish authority, the Lord Lyon and in turn by the Flag Institute, in June 2016, becoming the fourth Scottish county flag.